CIJA Urges Caution on Iranian Nuclear Agreement

Ottawa, ON – Today, the P5+1 announced that it has signed an agreement with Iran. Under the terms of the agreement, Iran will receive extensive sanctions relief in return for temporary limitations on aspects of its illicit nuclear program.
In response, David J. Cape, Chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), issued the following statement:
“While we share the goal of a diplomatic solution to this crisis, the Iranian regime has a long record of exploiting diplomacy as a cover to advance its nuclear program. The success of today’s agreement depends on Iran’s actions, not its words.
“The Government of Canada has been a world leader in countering Iran’s nuclear program by severing diplomatic ties with Tehran, engaging our allies, and holding the regime to account at the UN. Canada’s two major opposition parties have supported sanctions and called for strong verification measures to determine Iranian compliance, a non-partisan consensus that should be reaffirmed in the wake of today’s announcement. We urge officials in Ottawa to ensure that any relief of independent Canadian sanctions is strictly contingent on tangible and significant Iranian progress in fulfilling its obligations. We also trust that Canada’s position, now and in the future, continues to reflect an understanding and consideration of the legitimate security concerns of the Israeli people.
“Today’s announcement by no means relieves the international community of the need to hold Iran accountable for its persecution and repression of its own people at home and its promotion of terrorism abroad. Tehran continues to abuse the human rights of its own citizens, particularly women, religious minorities, political dissidents, and LGBT Iranians. Internationally, Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. The regime continues to train, fund, and arm terrorists throughout the Middle East, with particularly disastrous results for the people of Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen. It has been responsible for deadly terrorist attacks against Jewish community and Israeli targets around the globe, while regularly calling for the annihilation of Israel.
“Hasty sanctions relief will no doubt be used by Iran to fund this reprehensible agenda. Regardless of today’s announcement, Canada and the international community must continue to use economic and diplomatic tools to counter the threat posed by the regime to regional peace, global security, and domestic human rights.”

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The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA. CIJA is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of Jewish life in Canada by advancing the public policy interests of Canada’s organized Jewish community. www.cija.ca
For more information, to arrange an interview, or receive follow-up analysis, please contact:
Martin Sampson
Director of Communications
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)
613-219-3500
msampson@cija.ca
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